Are Loomis /Payton as good as their draft reputation?

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Originally Posted by AsylumGuido
I don't know. Atlanta appears to have just as many misses as we have since 2006.
Are you kidding? Look at their successes...
1 6 Julio Jones WR Alabama
3 91 Akeem Dent LB Georgia
5 ...

And who ever thinks that the draft is a crap shoot needs to get their head examined. There's a reason why some teams pick in the top 5-10 year after year, they can't scout and either reach or miss on players that were "sure" things

The reason some teams pick top 5-10 has to do with many things. Anyone who thinks the draft is the final culprit isn't paying attention. See my post above. The Patriots didn't draft extremely well from 2004-2008 and yet they won the most games in that span.

I'm fine with calculated crapshoot. There are quite a few draft picks we've made that I've really liked... but so far has not panned out. I think what we need to do better is coach and develop our players up to match their talents. It's also hard to predict how a young man re-acts to newfound fame and fortune... which in turn, can affect their play on the field too.

Basically what I'm saying is that we need to do a better job minimizing our calulated crapshoot with better coaching and developing. They all have talent if not they wouldn't be considered... we need to get more out of them.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to add to the scouting department though to also help minimize the risk factors.

One of the better teams at drafting drafted one of if not the biggest busts in the history of the draft. It happens every year. The numbers lean so heavily in favor of 'gamble' it's insane. It's not even debatable really.

The reason some teams pick top 5-10 has to do with many things. Anyone who thinks the draft is the final culprit isn't paying attention. See my post below. The Patriots didn't draft extremely well from 2004-2008 and yet they won the most games in that span.

Ooops...

Nice deflection. I never said the draft was the only way to succeed. The Pats are notorious for signing free-agents to accomplish their goals. And they have the best HC in the entire league.

I said some teams are better than others AT DRAFTING, and it appears we aren't very good at drafting of late, and the last 5 years of mostly failure sure point that out, especially compared with our rival.

I'm fine with calculated crapshoot. There are quite a few draft picks we've made that I've really liked... but so far has not panned out. I think what we need to do better is coach and develop our players up to match their talents. It's also hard to predict how a young man re-acts to newfound fame and fortune... which in turn, can affect their play on the field too.

Basically what I'm saying is that we need to do a better job minimizing our calulated crapshoot with better coaching and developing. They all have talent if not they wouldn't be considered... we need to get more out of them.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to add to the scouting department though to also help minimize the risk factors.

I don't think I'm playing both sides of the fence here am I?

Well if you're of the opinion we need better scouts then obviously you think some teams are better than others at drafting, and better scouts equate to better drafting. So its obvious you agree that its not a crap shoot.

Nice deflection. I never said the draft was the only way to succeed. The Pats are notorious for signing free-agents to accomplish their goals. And they have the best HC in the entire league.

I said some teams are better than others AT DRAFTING, and it appears we aren't very good at drafting of late, and the last 5 years of mostly failure sure point that out, especially compared with our rival.

Ooops...

Deflection? It's a fact, and not directed at you but at the person who posted it. I said the same thing several posts above. The numbers don't lie Danno.

And FWIW I agree with you that some teams are better than others. We disagree it seems because I assert that even though some are better than others this doesn't change the fact that it's still a gamble. It is. Every pick is a risk because NOBODY can successfully translate college performance to pro performance. That's why they measure everything - even stupid stuff, because they're trying to make an extremely precise thing from something that cannot be made so.

Obviously none of us know what its like in the draft rooms but there are some serious questions with our recent drafting skills

Patrick Robinson - 1st round when he wasn't even the best CB on his team
Usama young - 2nd round WTF!!
Taylor melhaff - off the team after half a season
Sed Ellis - What a joke
Chip Vaughan and Stanley Arnoux - beasts in college and never even made it on the field here
Al Woods - Cut in preseason for lack of work ethic

Something needs to change with our draft strategy, cuz it aint working

Yeah your exactly right!! All the rookies we draft hicks, Tez, and even Gallett although he's not a rookie anymore have all proven they could play and play very well. But we still go with will smith, Sed Ellis Vilma and Shanle??? Are u kidding me??? Cam Jordan is the only defensive player I've been impressed with in the past few defensive picks. But Tez, Gallett and hicks I believe are ready to play. Let us draft Mingo or D Jordan. And we're set. On the front 7 IMO given will smith Ellis Vilma and Shanle don't see the field.